Whistler skiers lead the way in downhill

Osborne-Paradis on the podium as storms hit European World Cup races

Future's So Bright Former WMSC skier Manuel Osborne-Paradis (right) blinks as photographers snap podium shots in Italy this weekend. It was the forth DH podium of Osborne-Paradis' career, and the third for the Canadians this season. Photo by Alpine Canada, pentaphoto

The FIS Alpine World Cup squeezed in several events before the
Christmas break with a mix of weather and conditions as Europe continued to be
hit by wave after wave of snowstorms. Events were delayed, moved and cancelled,
as skiers wrestled with everything from snow to wind to low visibility. Luckily
those seem to be the conditions where Canadian skiers thrive.

Through it all, Canada picked up its third medal of the season.
Manuel Osborne-Paradis, an alumnus of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, earned a
bronze medal in the downhill at Val Gardena/Groeden, Italy Saturday to cap a
successful day and week at the Italian resort.

Osborne-Paradis completed a shortened, technical Saslong course
in one minute, 51.11 seconds, just 0.16 back of American Bode Miller. Michael
Walchhofer of Austria picked up the gold medal.

It was Osborne-Paradis’s fourth career medal in three seasons,
or 58 World Cup starts — all of them in downhill so far.

“This was big,” he said. “It was good for me. I have been so
close to being on the podium and just haven’t been able to do it. To finally
get on that step was a big achievement for me.”

Osborne-Paradis had a quiet week in training, finishing 22
nd
and 37
th
on the downhill, but kicked things into high gear Friday
for the first day of racing, a super G. He finished 13
th
in that
event, then attacked the downhill from midway through the pack.

“I just pulled it together today. Today is what counts,” he
said following his bronze medal. “In races to come I hope to be better in the
training because there is no reason why I shouldn’t, and yes, it does make it
harder for me on race day (because of start position).”

It was Canada’s third medal this season, coming after medals by
Kucera and Guay. The women’s team, stronger last season, has yet to win any
hardware.

While Osborne-Paradis won the only podium of the weekend, other
Canadians had solid days.

In Friday’s opening super G, Guay was seventh, just 0.33 seconds
back of third place. Osborne-Paradis was 13
th
, Dixon 22
nd
and Kucera 25
th
. On the strength of his podium and consistent
results, Kucera is now ranked fourth in the super G, and 17
th
overall on the World Cup circuit. Only Guay ranks higher, 13
th
overall,
with a fifth place rank in downhill and eighth place rank in super G.